SANTA BARBARA, CA:The Gaviota Coast Conservancy (GCC) and the Naples Coalition along with Southern California Artists Painting for the Environment (SCAPE) and Reeve Woolpert, fine art photographer, will hold an art exhibition/fundraiser on Friday & Saturday, April 18 & 19, 2014 at the Bacara Resort & Spa. This two-day exhibit of more than 100 works of art, painted and photographed on the Gaviota Coast, will assist both the Naples Coalition and GCC to raise funds and awareness in their ongoing efforts to preserve and maintain the beautiful rural character of our rare and open coastline. Last year’s show was tremendously successful with more than $14,000 raised for the two conservation non-profits. Admission is free to the exhibition. Everyone is welcome, and those who do RSVP will get a free glass of wine at the reception. (Contact gavcoast@silcom.com to RSVP). SCAPE artists will donate 40% of the sale price of their art to the GCC and Naples Coalition to assist in these efforts. This is the second year for this exhibition and is unique for SCAPE in that photographer Reeve Woolpert and his fine art photography is included in the show.

An auction will be part of the first day – from 1 pm till 7:30 pm you can bid on a host of wonderful items with values from $60 to $900 to priceless. Live music from Susan & Sierra Reeves, Bruce Goldish and Paull E. Rubin & Guinness Brothers will entertain during the reception. This is a ‘Juried Show” with well-known and respected plein air artist John Iwerks serving as juror. Prizes will be awarded for Best Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, and Pastel along with a Beneficiary’s Choice picked by Save Naples/GCC and the Bacara General Manager Award chosen by Kathleen Cochran who will choose a painting as well as a photograph. Last year Bacara purchased one of the larger canvases, artist Nancy Davidson’s “Bacara at Haskell’s Beach” and is on display in the lobby of the exclusive resort. Raffle tickets for an overnight stay and spa treatment at Bacara with a bottle of fine wine, are only $5 and will be sold both days. Drawing is on Saturday @ 3:30pm (you need not be present to win). Kathleen Cochran, general manager of Bacara Resort & Spa, added, “Bacara is honored to call the Gaviota Coast our home. We have pledged our full support to organizations such as the Gaviota Coast Conservancy for the important work they do to preserve the beautiful rural character of this coastline."

"The upcoming SCAPE Art Show will expose our community to the beauty of the Gaviota Coast, and Naples in particular, as seen through the eyes of artists," says Phil McKenna, President of the Gaviota Coast Conservancy. "These talented artists are adept at capturing the emotions of being there, and their inspiring works will offer us the opportunity to own beautiful representations of the places which make our community worth living in. Through their art we see what is at stake. Purchasing this art not only furthers the cause of conservation, it enriches the buyer with a reminder of the beauty of this place. Will we preserve this priceless treasure we call the Gaviota Coast, or allow it to become just another commodity in the marketplace, sold to the highest bidder?"

Reeve Woolpert, adds, "My photography is not about me. It is not about roaming from one distant corner of the planet to another to show off my experiences. It is not about bagging the coolest perspectives of exotic places. It is about earnestly discovering the essences and poetry of nearby, familiar subjects returned to time and time again. In the case of threatened Gaviota, is about being moved by the spirit of the place, tripping out on her nature, and having as egoless a creative response as I can. My photography is also about activism and embracing home ground."

Donna Moser, President of SCAPE, describes the motivation of SCAPE artists for helping preserve the Gaviota Coast, "As many of our natural and beautiful landscapes and seascapes are on the verge of disappearing, SCAPE is dedicated to sharing the beauty of these areas through their art with the hope of preserving them. It is important to keep a place where the original California can still be seen by preserving it for the public."

Visions of the Gaviota Coast will also include live music on Friday, and on Saturday screenings of a film by Beezhan Tulu “Selma Rubin and Community Life” and Shaw Leonard’s trailer of his newest film “Gaviota, the End of Southern California.” Q+A with the filmmakers will follow the screenings at 11 am, 1 pm and 4 pm.

SYNOPSIS of films: “Selma Rubin and Community Life” When Selma Rubin, the environmental legend in Santa Barbara California, finds out a developer is planning to build 1500 homes in one of the most pristine areas on our planet, she decides to stop him using the power of community and saves the Gaviota Coast. Gaviota Coast by Channel Islands is considered a hot spot and crucial to the overall health of our planet. She activated thousands of responses and put a halt to the developer’s plans. Also screening, the newest trailer of Shaw Leonard’s film “Gaviota, the End of Southern California” which focuses on the Gaviota Coast and it’s importance to the community and the world.

Guided hike at Naples for up to 20 people and “Santa Barbara’s Royal Ranchos” book

One session of ‘Owling’ with world class expert Mark Holmgren

Four month subscription to Ellwood Canyon Farms CSA program (Organic produce)…….and many more great auction items

VISIONS OF THE GAVIOTA COAST: Events Schedule:

Friday, April 18

1:00 to 8:00pm– SCAPE Art Show hours

5:00 to 8:00pm – Special Artists Reception with refreshments and live music

Saturday, April 19

10:00am to 5:00pm – SCAPE Art Show Hours

3:30 pm Raffle Drawing

Screenings @ 11am, 1 pm and 4 pm

Q&A with the filmmakers after each screening.

About the Gaviota Coast and the Gaviota Coast Conservancy (GCC):

The Gaviota Coast, located in southern Santa Barbara County, includes the coastal watersheds between Coal Oil Point in Goleta, to Point Arguello on Vandenberg Air Force Base, and the remainder of Vandenberg's coast to Point Sal. The portion down-coast of Point Conception constitutes about 15% of Southern California's coast, yet contains approximately 50% of its remaining rural coastline. Expanding urbanization has displaced agriculture on fertile coastal plains along Southern California's coastline, reduced public beach access, and stressed coastal watersheds and marine ecosystems. Rapid population growth in the region has led to dramatic loss of native biological diversity, and a general decline in the health of ecosystems we depend on. To meet these challenges and preserve our coastal heritage, the Gaviota Coast Conservancy is dedicated to long-term strategies to permanently protect the Gaviota Coast. Call for more info:(805) 683-3381 http://gaviotacoastconservancy.org/

About SCAPE: SCAPE—Southern California Artists Painting for the Environment—was founded in 2002 and has grown to over 200 members, a diverse group including nationally known and local artists, students, patrons and even gallery owners. Membership is open to everyone who wants to participate. SCAPE’s goals are to have Exhibitions to help raise money to protect open spaces, to Increase public awareness of environmental and conservation issues, to promote camaraderie and provide education for artists. Among the non-profits SCAPE has helped raise money for are Environmental Defense Center, Community Environmental Council, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, UCSB’s Sedgwick Reserve, Coal Oil Point Reserve, Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation, the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Channelkeeper and Phoenix of Santa Barbara Creek Habitat Restoration program. To date, more than $125,000 has been raised for our local organizations through the end of 2013. GCC and Naples are now added to this list. Nationally known artists are invited to come to Santa Barbara to teach workshops. Averaging 200 members who participate in the Paint-Outs, workshops and exhibitions, members also volunteer as Board Members or Chair positions. SCAPE has three or four exhibits every year and each is juried. Membership is open year-round. Call (805) 570-9195 for info. www.s-c-a-p-e.org

About The Naples Coalition:

The Naples Coalition is a Santa Barbara, California-based public benefit, tax exempt corporation that includes leadership from a number of local non-profit groups including the Gaviota Coast Conservancy, Los Padres Chapter of the Sierra Club, Santa Barbara Chapter of Surfrider Foundation, Santa Barbara Chapter of the Audubon Society, Citizens Planning Association of Santa Barbara County, Santa Barbara County Action Network, and the League of Women Voters of Santa Barbara. The Naples Coalition is dedicated to the preservation of the rural character of the Naples property on the Gaviota coast. Call (805) 683- 3381 for more info. www.SaveNaples.org

About the Bacara's "Hearts of Bacara" community partnership program:

Bacara believes hospitality and community service go hand-in-hand. In that spirit, Bacara has instituted “Hearts of Bacara,” a comprehensive program comprised of community partnerships, in-kind donations, cash contributions and volunteered time and talent. To this effect, the Bacara has included the Gaviota Coast Conservancyas one of its community partners to support by hosting this SCAPE fundraising event.Bacara supports the Gaviota Coast Conservancy through educational outreach, fundraisers, art exhibitions, beach clean-ups and the resort’s annual holiday tree that pays homage to the beautiful coastline. For more information on this program, call (855) 817-9782 or visit:www.BacaraResort.com

WHY: Second Annual show devoted to art focusing on the Gaviota & Naples coastline. SCAPE artists & Woolpert will donate 40% of all sales to benefit the Naples Coalition and Gaviota Coast Conservancy. The Gaviota Coast is the jewel in our backyard. Irreplaceable and endangered, it is the landscape of our ancestors and has much to teach us. The SCAPE artists and photographer Reeve Woolpert are its ambassadors. Don’t miss their vision.